H&M Workers to Go on a Strike

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The Sweden-based H&M is the first clothing-retail company where the Koop-İş Union affiliated with the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) has unionized in Turkey. The union started negotiating with representatives of employers on a collective labor agreement.

The union and employers have agreed on 36 articles in five meetings. However, they can reach no consensus as to several important issues, including the wages. As the official arbitrator process has come to an end without any consensus, the union has called on a strike.

Speaking to bianet, Koop-İş Union Spokesperson Umut Yıldırım has indicated that the agreement to be signed by the parties will apply to 2 thousand 620 workers of H&M in Turkey and stated the following in brief:

'H&M proposed a 2-percent wage increase'

"We made five separate meetings at different dates, we have reached an agreement on 36 articles. But, we cannot agree on vital issues.

"Around 2,100 of H&M workers, or around 70 percent of them, work for minimum wage. The vast majority of these workers are part-time workers.

"The articles that we cannot agree on are the ones that violate the principle of equality. We demanded a 20-percent wage increase for the minimum wage earners and a 17-percent increase for the ones who earn more. The employer responded with a 2-percent wage increase for the first year.

'Inequality in food allowances and days off'

'In such a crisis, this rate is unacceptable. Another point that we cannot agree on is the daily food allowance.

"There is an inequality between the allowance allocated to the ones working at central H&M stores and other stores. While the food allowance is 27 lira at central stores, the allowance at other stores is 20 lira. We requested the elimination of this inequality, but the H&M did not accept it.

"Another point of inequality is the off days of workers. While some workers take two days off a week, others take only one day. We demanded that this equality be eliminated and all workers be given two days off a week. But, we cannot reach an agreement about this issue, either.

Part time workers

"Another issue is about part-time workers. The related laws stipulate that part-time workers shall not work over 30 hours a week. But, in an arbitrary manner, the H&M employs everyone for different periods of time.

"Some of them work for 10 hours, some of them for 30 and some of them for 17 hours... There is also an ambiguity as to who will work when and how much. Workers do not know for how long they will work in the next week or in the next month. Everyone has the right to know for how long they will work. We requested that the working hours of everyone be specified, but this offer of ours is not accepted, either.

'We will go on a strike on October 4'

"That being the case, we have decided to go on a strike after the legal period has expired. We will go on a strike at all stores on October 4. We will announce our decision of strike at the stores on September 20-21.

"We wish that all disagreements will be resolved soon and our requested rights will be granted to workers.

"We want the employer to eliminate the unlawful practices. We want an agreement based on the principle of equality." (HA/SD)